April 13, 2011

(NYT link.) It has put out a brochure called “Expressing Yourself in Nudity,” with photos of naked people walking in the streets and parks. But that's all about to end....

Just Roca, 56, a specialist in sexology... compares the campaign against nudity to a parallel proposal to ban the wearing of the Muslim women’s veil, often called the burqa, in public places, as several nearby cities in the Catalonia region have done and as the Barcelona City Council is considering. Mr. Roca called both measures forms of segregation. “It’s like ‘No Negroes,’ ” he said. Just as politicians fear that a burqa-clad woman has something to hide, he said, “they imagine an undressed person has something to hide, too."

I am OK with that but only if there is a licensing process that screens out unattractive, fat people from going around nude. I just left a 711 and there were 3 college coeds there who I would not want to see naked. To be fair, they would not want to see me naked either.

So I say without a license to validate you are hawt, you can't be a public nudist. Sound fair?

"It not that people want to be naked, it's that they want other people to see them naked (and hopefully be outraged)."

Some years ago, at a discussion of the life and work of fantasy writer Theodore Sturgeon, another writer who had stayed at Sturgeon's home mentioned that Sturgeon, a nudist, always answered the door naked. Postal carrier, UPS delivery, political canvasser, charity soliciter, it didn't matter. If they were upset or offended, so much the better.

While not a nudist, if often go to a nude (actually, 'clothing optional') beach in N. Miami. Yes, I'm old; yes, I'm out of shape. So are most of the others on the beach.

We're not there for visual aesthetics, though sometimes there are pleasant surprises. We're there for the sun and swimming in the ocean without encumbrance. Most of us are not there as part of some mating ritual, either.

It's purely hedonistic and selfish: we don't care what others may think of our bodies. It's about our own skin, the sun, and the sea. If the pleasurable aspects of that combination aren't apparent, then then there's no explaining it.

It's a family beach, too. All ages, from babies in arms to octogenarians show up, though there is a notable void in the 12-16 y/o range. Body self-awareness and shyness seem to hit that age. It's probably just as well that they avoid the beach, in fact, as there are those who have trouble abiding the lines that circumscribe child porn.

But sexual behavior on the beach is not only strongly frowned upon, it's an arrestable offense. Police regularly patrol this beach as they do the 'clothing mandatory' beaches to the north and south. The life guards may give a warning before calling the cops, but they don't hesitate to call them. There was enough difficulty in getting the laws changed to permit the clothing-optional beach to ensure that the users keep the abusers away.

I'm aware that my attendance is likely due to having been raised in New England--Emily Dickenson's quiet gardens and Hester Prynne's dressmaker. Shucking the claustrophobic social milieu seems to have led to shucking clothes, too.

I'm certainly not out to offend anyone by my presence. Equally, I'm not offended by anyone else's presence, be they obese or anorexic; with two, one or no breasts; odd or even numbers of limbs. It's about our own bodies, not others' or what others might think of our own.

Thanks for your comment, Burgess. Well said and makes me think. But as to the actual topic, burqa's versus nudity. Well, there is no comparison near as I can tell. One is about freedom, the other oppression.

I suppose there are other motivations, but many of the nudists and burqistas have a wish to express hostility towards western conventions.....I stayed at a Club Med some time back. There were many French girls there, and they all went topless. Some of the girls were very pretty, and it was a pleasant enough experience. After a few days, most of the American girls started going topless as well. It was all very civilized, but there were some girls who gave off such a jolt of sexuality that it was difficult to keep one's composure in their presence. Nudity among strangers causes more hypocrisy than clothing.